spears



(No Model.) v

E. SPEARS.

DOUBLE TREE. .No. 252,535. Patented Jan. 17,1882;

.5: v entai N. PETERS Phulo-Lunomulw, Wauhinxlnn, D. c.

NITEI) STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EMANUEL SPEARS, OF LA FAYETTE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO HARDING, BARBEE &(30., OF SAME PLACE.

DOUBLE-TRE E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 252,535, dated January17, 1882.

Application filed October 4,1881. (No model.)

State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement inDouble-Trees; andI do hereby declare that the following is a full andaccurate description of the same.

Double-trees are usually provided with a cheek-chain at each end,extending back to the axle, for the purpose of limiting the movement ofthe double-tree. They have also been frequently provided with elasticconnections to the tongue or axle to relieve shock and jerking instarting, or when obstructions are encountered by the wheel. Neither ofthese, however, is my invention, not capable of accomplishing thepurpose of it.

It is desirable that the double-tree shall, as nearly as possible, bemaintained in a position at right angles to the tongue, and I havetherefore provided an elastic brace or buffer, which will resist amotion of the double-tree .in either direction from the position atright angles to the tongueor line of draft, and without preventing saidmotion under stress will constantly tend to restore the double tree toits proper initial position.

My invention therefore consists in an elastic brace or buffer applied toa wagon doubletree to resist any motion of the same away from a positionat right angles to the tongue or line of draft.

That others may fully understand myinvention', I will more particularlydescribe it, having reference to the accompanying drawings wherein-Figure 1 is a plan view of a typical form of my device. Figs. 2, 3, 4.,5, 6, and 7 represent detailsjof modifications.

A is the tongue. B is the double-tree. G G are the \vhit'tletrees, allattached as usual and pivoted to the tongue by the hammer-strap andbolt, as usual. In this case, however, I provide a block of rubber, D,which is straight along one edge to bear against the doubletree,andplacezthe same in contact with the double-tree, either before or behindit, but

preferably before it, because then it the double-tree is loose on thehammer-bolt the draftstrain will be partly borne by the block D, andsaid block will always be kept in the most effective operative position.The block D may be secured in place by some convenient means. In thedrawings I represent the hammer-strap as being extended forward adistance sufficient to inelose said block, but it may be secured in anyother convenient way. The elastic pressure of said block against thedoubletree on each side of its pivot tends to keep said double-treealways in a position which willmaintain said pressure in equilibrium. Aforward movement of the double-tree at either end will increase thepressure on one side and relieve it on the other, and the tendency willbe to restore the double-tree to its normal position.

Figs. 2 to 7 represent various modifications of my invention, consistingof different ways of I arranging the elastic brace or 'buffer withoutdeparting from the principle of the invention.

In Fig. 2 the elastic brace or buffer consists of two elastic pads, D,arranged on a bolt, I), transverse to the tongue, and a rigid arm, d,secured to the double-tree B, and having its outer end confined betweenthe pads D D. Any movement of the double-tree upon the hammer-bolt willcausethe compression and resistance of one or the other of said pads.

In Fig. 3 a single elastic pad, D is placed on a bolt, 1), longitudinalas to the tongue, said bolt being capable of motion longitudinally tocompress said pad against the clip 0, and the end of the bolt 1) isattached to the double-tree at such side of the hammer-bolt by flexibleconnections g g, whereby a movement in either direction of the doubletree on the hammer-strap will cause one or the other of the connectionsgg to be drawn forwardand the pad to be compressed.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new isy 1. The tongue A,and double-tree B, pivoted to said tongue, combined with the elasticbrace or buffer mounted upon said tongue,

and supported in engagement with the doube resisted by said buffer, forthe purpose set ble-tree to hold the same in position, as set forth.

forth. his

2. A double-tree pivoted to the tongue, com- EMANUEL x SPEARS. 5 binedwith an elastic brace or buffer in enmarkgagement with said double-treeateach side Attest: of said pivot, whereby any motion of said J. U.DAVIDSON, double-tree upon said pivot will compress and THOS. HARDING.

